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(No Model.)

P. C. FERGUSON.

INTRA UTBRINE STEM.`

Patented Jan. m29, 1895.A

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FRANK O. FERGUSON, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

INTRA-UTERINE STEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,120,

dated January 29, 1895..

Application filed March 19I 1894. Serial No. 504,155. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK C. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Intra-Uterine Stems5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in intra-uterine stems for thetreatment of flexions and displacements of the womb, painfulmenstruation, chronic metritis, endometritis, and for drainage in casesof suppuration of the fallopian tubes, and for sterility.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide an instrument forinsertion intothe uterine cavity, so constructed that it will beself-supporting without requiring a vaginal pessary to retain it inplace and will conform to the general contour of the uterine cavity;second, to construct an instrument that can be worn continuously withoutpain and can be worn during menstruation and for months or yearsifnecessary; third, to distend and separate the folds of the endometriumso as to facilitate drainage and to prevent irritation arising from theaccumulation of irritating discharges; fourth, to conform to the naturalcontour of the uterine cavity; fifth, to provide an unobstructed channelthrough the internal and the external os through which uninterrupteddrainage may be had; sixth, to provide a stem of noncorrosive material,that will be inexpensive and can be bent before insertion to conform tothe naturalanti-curvature of the womb and that will be free from allsharp angles or projections that could cause irritation; seventh, toconstruct a-stem that will not make injurious pressure upon the point ofiiexion; eighth, to construct a stem that will permit of the normalmovements of the uterus during expiration and inspiration; ninth, andfinally, to effect a permanent cure by the restoration of the normalcirculation within the Walls of the uterus and its appendages.

Iaccomplish the objects of this invention by the mechanism illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a View in sideelevation of my improved stem, and Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinalsection of the uterus showing the stem insertedinto its cavity.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout both views of thedrawings.

A represents the triangular portion of my improved stern which restsabove the internal os and within the cavity of the body of the womb andis given this triangular shape in order to correspond with thedownwardly tapering contour of the cavity. The length of this triangularportion A should be such as to extend almost but not quite the entirelength of the cavity so as to leave a clean ance of at least one fourthof an inch between the top of the triangle and the fundus. The uppercorners of the triangle will be well rounded off as shown in thedrawings to prevent injury to the parts with which it is brought intocontact.

B is the spindle portion which rests within the cavity of the neck ofthe womb and in size and outline is shaped to conform to the naturalcontour of that cavity.

C represents the constriction which unites the parts A and B of myimproved stem and rests within the internal os. It is\provided with thecircumferential channels c which serve as drainage canals through theos. In the drawings the channels are shown as spiral grooves but theymight with equal advantage be made straight instead of spiral so far astheir efficiency for drainage purposes is concerned.

It will be seen that the shape of the two sections A and B not onlyaffords comfort to the wearer of my improved stem but that the stemitself is retained in its position within the uterus by the naturalconformation of the interior of that organ.

D represents a second constriction which in this case rests within theexternal os and connects the spindle portion B with laterally projectedarms E and E. These arms are formed with an upward curvature by whichthey are made to embrace the sides of the cervix and also prevents thestem from being forced too far into the womb. Each of the arms terminatein a bulbous portion e in order to prevent irritation or wounding of thevaginal or cervical mucous membrane. This IOO bulbous terminal may beformed integral with the material of the arms or may be made from aseparate piece which is secured by being riveted to the end of the armor may be screwed onto the arm. Fig. l shows the terminal formed inseparate piece and secured by being screwed onto the ends of the arms,the dotted lines indicating the arms.

The constriction D is also channeled to allow free egress of dischargesfrom the womb.

In the construction of my stem I will preferably use wires which will bebent to form the triangle and the spindle and the projected ends of thewire will form the arms. The constricted portions with their spiralchannels will be produced by twisting the wires together at the points Cand D. By the use of wire I am able to produce a stem in which the edgeswill all be rounded off and in which the inside area of the triangle andspindle will be open and therefore produce an instrument much lighter inweight than if those parts were solid. However I do not wish to limitthis invention to use of wire in the construction ot the stem. In theselection of materials I have found the metal aluminum to be farsuperior to anything else on account of its light weight, its strengthand because of its non-corrosive qualities, all of which areimportant inthe construction of an instrument such as I have here described and forthe purposes intended.

To insert the instrument the womb is drawn down with a tenaculum and theneck dilated one half inch. The instrument is then inserted into thecavity of the womb, the triangular portion iirst, and pushed along thecanal until the spindle enters the cavity of the cervix and the neckrests upon the arms, which extend upward along the sides of the cervixto the extentof one halt` orthree fourths of an inch.

I claiml. An intra-uterine stem having an upper triangular shapedportion adapted to be inserted into the cavity of the womb, a spindleshaped portion to occupy the cavity of the cervix and a constrictedportion connecting the two and adapted to rest within the internal os,said parts forming an instrument that will be selt` supporting withoutthe use of a vaginal pessary or other external sup port, substantiallyas described.

2. An intra-uterine stem having an upper triangular shaped portionadapted to be inserted into the cavity of the womb, a spindle shapedportion to occupy the cavity of the cervix, arms extending outside ofthe womb to engage the cervix-uteri and remaining free in the vagina andconstricted portions connecting the upper triangle with the spindle andconnecting the spindle with the arms, said constricted portions adaptedto rest in the internal and the external os respectively, and bothportions having channels by which unobstructed drainage of the parts ofthe uterus may be had.

3. An intra-uterine stem havinga body portion to be inserted into thewomb and having one or more arms connected with said body portion andextending outside of the womb and curved up so that the neck of thecervixuteri will rest in the bend of the arms and the said armsterminating in a bulbous expansion for the purposes as described andspecified.

4. Anintra-uterine stem constructed of aluminum and having a bodyportion conf forming to the contour of the general uterine cavity andhaving arms connected with said body portion and extending into thevagina and curved to engage the cerviX-uter, said arms terminating inbulbous expansions substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK C. FERGUSON.

Witnesses:

JOHN T. MCSHANE, F. C. HEATH.

